Back in 1978, I was admitted to Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Chapter 17 School starts

After lunch, Tu and his team left. After all, the plane hadn't been sold yet, and the project still needed to go through the formal approval process. They took the research data from Northwestern Polytechnical University and went directly to the capital to report on their work.

As for Qin Liang... Qin Liang tragically discovered that the Terracotta Army, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Song of Everlasting Regret, Yongxingfang... all tourist attractions were completely out of his reach. In fact, he had never even left the Fifth Department office building!
Several archive rooms were emptied and transformed into the Double Triangle Wing Project Office. Everyone worked together to prepare, just waiting for Tu Lao and the others to approve the funding so they could get things going.

At this time of year, the temperature is just right, neither too hot nor too cold, so when you're tired or sleepy, you can simply lie down on the empty table next to you, close your eyes, and within three seconds, you'll be snoring away.

Meals? An auntie from the cafeteria delivers meals to us, both lunch and dinner, and they always have meat!

And so, countless days passed in a daze. Just as Qin Liang was fast asleep, he was suddenly awakened by the loud noise of a loudspeaker.

On behalf of all the faculty and students of Northwestern Polytechnical University, I welcome the Class of '78 freshmen!

"This year marks the second year since the resumption of the college entrance examination..."

Qin Liang sat up abruptly. He hadn't expected that today was the first day of school, and the opening ceremony was being held on the playground!
"Damn, school has already started in the blink of an eye, and none of you have said a word! I haven't even completed my enrollment procedures, and I haven't even moved into my dorm..."

"I've already spoken to your homeroom teacher about your enrollment procedures!" Professor Sha said, looking up.

"You don't need to move your dorm. I've already spoken to the dorm manager and arranged for the senior students to move out. That floor will be vacated for you freshmen. You don't need to move your dorm," Professor Liu said.

Generally speaking, unless there are special circumstances, once you enter university, your dormitory will remain the same for four years. After the seniors graduate and leave, the dormitory will be used by the freshmen. Now, in order to prevent Qin Liang from going back to the dormitory to move his things, they actually made the students who just entered their senior year on the same floor move out!

Qin Liang was speechless.

"Shouldn't I at least get to know the other students in my dorm? And I also have to attend our class's first class meeting, right?"

"Well, the opening ceremony is in the morning, and your class 5381's first class meeting won't be until the afternoon. Don't leave until 1:50 PM! Since you're awake, come over here. We have some data here that you need to process..."

Qin Liang rubbed his eyes: "Okay."

Outside, after the speech ended, enthusiastic applause rang out. Qin Liang felt a little helpless. "I want to integrate into the freshman group. I want to see Yang Wei, Tang Changhong, Zhao Xiaoxia... and my dear classmates!"

On the playground, the opening ceremony finally came to an end.

Registration was conducted directly within the department, followed by dormitory assignments, check-in procedures, the opening ceremony, and so on. I had already gotten to know some of my roommates.

Dormitory 13, Room 308.

Creak... Tang Changhong pushed open the door: "Come on, roommates, you come in first!"

"Old Tang, you're so considerate. I'll vote for you when we elect a dorm leader!"

"Why bother choosing? Just decide, it's Old Tang!"

Tang Changhong smiled broadly: "My roommates, please don't worry, I will definitely manage our dormitory well! In a moment, I will draw up our dormitory duty roster and write down some basic dormitory rules..."

Seeing everyone come in, Tang Changhong asked curiously, "Is someone missing from our dorm?"

"Yeah, the student in the upper bunk by the window hasn't shown their face at all!" Yang Wei looked up at his upper bunk. What was going on? "Could it be a senior who didn't have time to move out?"

"Maybe so, but never mind him. There are seven of us, so we can take turns every week! The student on duty is not only responsible for cleaning, but also for fetching water and supervising the other students' studies..."

After Tang Changhong finished speaking, he looked at Yang Wei and said, "Yang Wei, you are the youngest. I'll help you when it's your turn to do chores!"

"No need, I can do it. Let's start today!"

As Yang Wei spoke, he grabbed the thermos flasks from the windowsill, carrying two in each hand, and went outside with the four thermos flasks in his arms.

Watching Yang Wei's departing figure, Tang Changhong sighed, "Our roommates are so great! Everyone, don't just stand there, let's clean the dorm together!"

In the afternoon, at two o'clock, in classroom 5381 of Building 1.

"Welcome to Northwestern Polytechnical University, everyone. I am your class teacher and counselor, Yu Zhi."

The students in this class of 5381 were almost all among the highest-scoring students admitted to Northwestern Polytechnical University this year. The students were of very high quality, and the teachers also enthusiastically signed up. Yu Zhi was fortunate enough to become the class teacher.

In later generations, many universities only established counselor positions. This system was established in 1961 and was mainly for ideological and political work. However, in the special period that followed, this work was tarnished.

In 1978, universities reinstated the counselor system. Since most of the people who had previously worked on ideological work had been reassigned, the counselors had to be full-time teachers. If no one could be found, the class advisors would take on the role.

"I hope that in these four years, our 28 classmates can..." After writing her name on the blackboard, Yu Zhi turned back to continue her speech. Just then, a right hand was raised from below.

"Yang Wei, do you have something to say?"

Yang Wei was the youngest; after all, taking the college entrance exam is different for junior high school students than for high school students! His slightly immature face made him instantly recognizable.

Yang Wei stood up: "Teacher, there are a total of... 27 students here."

We don't need to count the number of people; we can tell from the odd and even numbers that two people sit at each table, but Yang Wei is the only one at his table—he's single! So… should we wait until all the classmates are here before continuing?
Yu Zhi glanced at it and immediately understood: "Well... we don't need to wait for him, let's continue..."

"Report! Report!" Just then, a voice came from outside, panting heavily.

Yu Zhi turned her head to look at the door, her face full of smiles: "Qin Liang, you're here! Come in, come in!"

In the classroom, all 27 pairs of eyes turned to look at him. It was rare for him to be late on the first day of school, and he didn't even seem to be seen at such a grand occasion as the opening ceremony!
"Okay." Qin Liang agreed and walked into the classroom. Seeing that there was no empty seat next to Yang Wei, he sat down.

It's all Professor Sha's fault! Seeing that I finished my work early, he gave me another assignment. Even though I ate an extra tea egg for lunch, it wasn't worth it! I was late for the first class meeting, and I looked so disheveled that I didn't even dare to look closely. I wonder if there are any pretty girls in the class…

"Uncle, did you just arrive today?" Just then, a voice came from beside me.

　P.S.: According to an alumnus of Northwestern Polytechnical University, each dormitory has eight beds, but one bed is reserved for luggage, so only seven people are allowed to stay there. Thanks to this reader for the helpful tip!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)